Automated optical disk loading rack

ABSTRACT

A disc holder ( 16 ) rack and 2 moving disk drives ( 14 ). The disk holder ( 16 ) holds disks ( 18 ) from top via vacuum. The discs ( 18 ) get released by air entering the vacuum area, thus pushing the disc ( 18 ) down. The other part of the invention is the disc drive ( 14 ) that is mounted on a vertical drive mechanism ( 10, 46 ). By mounting the disc drive ( 14 ) directly on the vertical drive mechanism ( 10, 46 ), the intermediate transfer robot is eliminated. The drive mount( 46 ) complies with the standard one in the computer industry, thus upgrading disc drives ( 14 ) is simplified.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the design of an automated optical discloading rack system and, more particularly, to how the design simplifiesthe loading and unloading of optical discs into an optical driveprocess, while allowing upgradability of drive as advances in drivetechnology continue.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ever since discs have been used for data, audio and video storage,managing discs has not been very efficient. This is an issue for bothconsumers and businesses. The discs are stored in cupboards and requiressignificant manual organizing.

Most common solution for audio discs in the consumer market is the 6disc CD changer, and more recently the conversion of CD data into MPEGfiles for storage in IPOD style MP3 players.

The solutions in existence may be adequate for audio storage, but datastorage for business and video storage for consumers require greaterstorage capacity.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a mechanism tostore the wafer from the top with vacuum.

It is another object of the invention to directly load disc from rack todisc drive without an intermediate transfer mechanism.

It is another object of the invention to use a disc drive mountingscheme that allows installation of an off the shelf disc drive, thusupgrading to newer versions of disc drives becomes simple and costeffective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a disc mediaholder rack and 2 moving disc drives. The disc drives are moved to wherethe disc media are located, and are directly placed into the disc drive.By loading directly, the need for an intermediary transfer roboticmechanism is eliminated. This disc media are held from the top viavacuum, and are released by gravity after a vacuum leak situation iscreated. Holding the wafers from the top via vacuum eliminates thepotential for possible scratches and the need for additional disc mediaprotection covers. The disc drives used are standard ones used in thecomputer industry, and the drive mount complies with the standard one inthe computer industry. This allows easy upgrade of the equipment fromfrom DVD drives to Blue-ray or HD-dvd disc drive for example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained byreference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunctionwith the subsequent, detailed description, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front partial view of a disc holding rack and moving discloader. the left most vertical bar shown in the main vacuum rod. theleft section shows the main vacuum rod attached with one individualvacuum rod. both the main vacuum rod and the individual vacuum rod arehollow, and are generally in vacuum. the individual vacuum rod has threepotential sources of air inlet, though the one connected to the mainvacuum rod is blocked via a check valve. the remaining two inlets aretemporarily blocked via the spring loaded leak vacuum pin and the discmedia holding suction cup. the right most vertical bar shown is thevertical lead screw. the right section shows the disc drive mechanicallyconnected to vertical lead screw with a drive mount. the disc drive isshown in a loading position, where the suction cup was just attached tothe disc media that resides in the disc holder. above the disc is theleak magnet solenoid, that is used to release the disc media from thesuction cup;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a disc holding rack and moving disc loader.the left most vertical bar shown in the main vacuum rod attached to avacuum pump shown at the bottom of the figure. the left section showsthe main vacuum rod attached with seven individual vacuum rod. eachindividual vacuum rod is holding a disc media. the top most individualvacuum rod has disc media that was just loaded. the right most verticalbar shown is the vertical lead screw with a positioning motor attachmentshown at the bottom. the vertical lead screw is attached to two discdrive via standard drive mount. in addition one leak magnetic solenoidis shown on each disc drive;

FIG. 3 is a detail view of an air flow for the vacuum system that holdsand releases the disc media. there are 2 individual vacuum rod systemsshown. the top one is releasing a disc media, whereas the bottom one isholding the disc media. the spring loaded leak vacuum pin allow air intothe individual vacuum rod when it is pulled by the leak magnet solenoid.when air enters the individual vacuum bar, air also enters the suctioncup, and the disc media is released. when disc media is loaded onto thesuction cup, the air entering from the bottom of the suction cup isblocked, thus creating a vacuum. the vacuum is created because of thenature of loading the disc media onto the suction cup and the presenceof a vacuum pump continuously drawing air from the enclosed individualvacuum rod;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a distribution for power to the varioussubsystems. the ac plug is shown on the left, the dc power supply isshown in the middle, and the four loads on the dc power supply are shownon the right. the four loads include the motion controller, the vacuumpump, the disc drive and the usb hub; and

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a communication interface to the varioussubsystems. on the left are the devices that need to be controlled. theyinclude the positioning motor, the two magnetic leak solenoids and thedisc drive. the positioning motor and two magnetic leak solenoids arecontrolled via the motion controller, where as the disc drive iscontrolled directly. all control occurs from the external pc, which isshown on the right.

For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components willbear the same designations and numbering throughout the Figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a front partial view of a disc holding rack and moving discloader. the left most vertical bar shown in the main vacuum rod 24. theleft section shows the main vacuum rod 24 attached with one individualvacuum rod 22. both the main vacuum rod 24 and the individual vacuum rod22 are hollow, and are generally in vacuum. the individual vacuum rod 22has three potential sources of air inlet, though the one connected tothe main vacuum rod 24 is blocked via a check valve 32. the remainingtwo inlets are temporarily blocked via the spring loaded leak vacuum pin26 and the disc media 18 holding suction cup 20. the right most verticalbar shown is the vertical lead screw 10. the right section shows thedisc drive 14 mechanically connected to vertical lead screw 10 with adrive mount 46. the disc drive 14 is shown in a loading position, wherethe suction cup 20 was just attached to the disc media 18 that residesin the disc holder 16. above the disc is the leak magnet solenoid 40,that is used to release the disc media 18 from the suction cup 20.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a disc holding rack and moving disc loader.the left most vertical bar shown in the main vacuum rod 24 attached to avacuum pump 30 shown at the bottom of the figure. the left section showsthe main vacuum rod 24 attached with seven individual vacuum rod 22.each individual vacuum rod 22 is holding a disc media 18. the top mostindividual vacuum rod 22 has disc media 18 that was just loaded. theright most vertical bar shown is the vertical lead screw 10 with apositioning motor 28 attachment shown at the bottom. the vertical leadscrew 10 is attached to two disc drive 14 via standard drive mount 46.in addition one leak magnetic solenoid is shown on each disc drive 14.

FIG. 3 is a detail view of an air flow for the vacuum system that holdsand releases the disc media 18. there are 2 individual vacuum rod 22systems shown. the top one is releasing a disc media 18, whereas thebottom one is holding the disc media 18. the spring loaded leak vacuumpin 26 allow air into the individual vacuum rod 22 when it is pulled bythe leak magnet solenoid 40. when air enters the individual vacuum bar,air also enters the suction cup 20, and the disc media 18 is released.when disc media 18 is loaded onto the suction cup 20, the air enteringfrom the bottom of the suction cup 20 is blocked, thus creating avacuum. the vacuum is created because of the nature of loading the discmedia 18 onto the suction cup 20 and the presence of a vacuum pump 30continuously drawing air from the enclosed individual vacuum rod 22.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a distribution for power to the varioussubsystems. the ac plug 34 is shown on the left, the dc power supply 36is shown in the middle, and the four loads on the dc power supply 36 areshown on the right. the four loads include the motion controller 38, thevacuum pump 30, the disc drive 14 and the usb hub 44.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a communication interface to the varioussubsystems. on the left are the devices that need to be controlled. theyinclude the positioning motor 28, the two magnetic leak solenoids andthe disc drive 14. the positioning motor 28 and two magnetic leaksolenoids are controlled via the motion controller 38, where as the discdrive 14 is controlled directly. all control occurs from the external pc42, which is shown on the right.

Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operatingrequirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in theart, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen forpurposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications whichdo not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of thisinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected byLetters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.

1. An automated optical disk loading rack for directly loading anoptical disc from any one of the many stored slots to an optical drivewhere data, audio or video can be read or written, comprising: means formoving optical drive in vertical direction; means for holding diskthrough suction; and means for mount disc drive to vertical lead screw,rigidly connected to said means for moving optical drive in verticaldirection.
 2. The automated optical disk loading rack in accordance withclaim 1, wherein said means for holding disk through suction comprises asuction cup.
 3. The automated optical disk loading rack in accordancewith claim 1, wherein said means for mount disc drive to vertical leadscrew comprises a standard disc drive mounting scheme to allow easy discdrive upgrade drive mount.